THE UPPER ROOM

"There's exuberance here, and the musical numbers - moodily lit by Jay Ryan, with daffy-beautiful choreography by Mr. Bloom and Mr. Rady let it take flight."

"a sonic glow as entrancing as a phosphorescent sea... vocally complex, rich and consistently surprising"

-The New York Times, Critic's Pick

The Upper Room is a new play with original music inspired by the back-to-the-land movement. Set on an island way off the north coast of Maine, the last participants of a once thriving commune meet the sea. Anxious and restless, the quorum gathers around the table in their upper room to confront the rising water and certain members' curious ailments. A darkly humorous consideration of spirituality and the dangers of our changing environment combines with a live mixed score, antique scuba suits, and an overhead projector to create a new tale of human metamorphoses.

Inspirational sources include the lives of Helen and Scott Nearing (authors of "The Good Life"), the grandmother/grandfather of the back-to-the-land/ homesteading movement. The play is also inspired by Iris Murdoch's novels "The Bell" and "The Unicorn," by Karen Blixen's short story "Babette's Feast," and by selkie and mermaid legends at large.

"The master invention and creativity that Jeremy Bloom, Brian Rady, and Catherine Brookman brought to the piece will certainly be rewarded."

-Theasy

"Waves pound and crash in the opening moments of the show, but the cataclysm that's coming is a stealthy one"

-The New York Times

"Throughout this piece I found myself saying, 'Only in New York, only downtown, how fortunate we are to be here.' - an evolution most  fascinating, exciting, and entertaining to experience."

-NY Theater Now

"a daring piece you have to see to believe."

-Theater in the Now

written and directed by Jeremy Bloom and Brian Rady; music composed and performed by Catherine Brookman; featuring Joe White (guitar): Catherine Brookman* (Hannah), Tjasa Ferme (Eileen), Dana Kaplan-Angle (Marta), Govind Kumar (Seamus), Robert Gadol Lavenstein (Albert), Joyce Miller (Philipa), Stacy Ayn Price (Sue), Julia Sirna-Frest* (Dawn), and Heather Thiry (Lena)     *AEA

lighting design by Jay Ryan, sound design by Mark Van Hare, and set/costume/props by Rady&Bloom; stage manager, Lauren Schatten; assistant director, Brandon Powers; PA Jamie Munsey

The Upper Room was commissioned by the New Ohio, and was developed as part of the Archive Residency (New Ohio/ IRT), the Drama League Artist Residency Program, and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Process Space program. The Upper Room is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC.net).

• World Premiere, the New Ohio
• Public Workshop, Ice Factory, the New Ohio
• Developmental Workshops, IRT
• Public Reading, Judson Memorial Church